Ethics in Public Office Act, 1995

Prohibition of disclosure of information.

35.—(1) A person shall not disclose information obtained by him or her under this Act or by being present at a sitting of a Committee or Commission held in private.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to—

(a) the disclosure of information in the public interest by a Minister of the Government,

(b) the disclosure of information contained in—

(i) a statement under section 13 or 14 (1) or a statement under section 29 (2) in relation to an interest specified in section 13 ,

(ii) a statement under section 17 or 18 or a statement under section 29 (2) in relation to an interest specified in section 17 or 18 , or

(iii) a statement under section 19 or a statement under section 29 (2) in relation to an interest specified in section 19 ,

by a person to whom the statement is furnished under this Act (“the first-mentioned person”) to—

(I) in the case of a statement referred to in subparagraph (i), such Minister of the Government,

(II) in the case of a statement referred to in subparagraph (ii), such directors of, or persons occupying positions of employment in, the public body concerned, and

(III) in the case of a statement referred to in subparagraph (iii), such persons,

as the first mentioned person considers appropriate in a case where that person is of opinion that the information is such as to show that there may exist a conflict between an interest specified in the statement, or an undisclosed interest, of the person by whom the statement is furnished as aforesaid and the public interest,

(c) the disclosure of information by a person—

(i) in the performance of his or her functions, or

(ii) in the public interest, to a Minister of the Government, the Secretary to the Government, a Committee, the Commission or a person standing determined for the time being under section 18 as a relevant authority, or

(iii) pursuant to an order of a court for the purpose of proceedings in that court,

or

(d) the disclosure, by or with the consent of the person to whom the information relates, of information contained in a report of a Committee under section 10 or the Commission under section 24 that has not been laid before either House.

(3) A person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence.